FIRE BOARDS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8780, 11 June 1907, Page 5

FIRE BOARDS.

First Meetings. 1 (By Telegraph —P-irss Association.) DUNEDIN, Lu»t «;;"'.l: At the first meeting of the Fire Board for Duuedin, constituted under the Fire Brigades' Act, the Chairman I HftUl tl>P rtfltfPi* nr aud Plailfc eoi»iii!ta!d h& to impel - vise the SrigiMW buildings aiM equipment, flic By-ia!ta? Comm.Htee would deal with buildings'' in the c:.*7> and the construction of future* buildup, as well as fixing conflagration Imznrda. Mr Arkle suggested that the By-laws Committee might clash with the functions of the City Council, whose Works Committee regulated building construction in the city by their own by-laws. The Chairman thought the two bodies need not come into conflict. Mr London pointed out that if the Fire Board were to have complete -control the Council's by-laws would become a dead letter. The question of the date at which the Act authorised the Board to take over existing Brigades in the district was fully debated, and it was agreed that the Board assumed responsibility from their first meeting—i.e., from to-day. The Chairman understood that the City Council had notified the Brigade that the Corporation were no longer responsible for " the Brigade's administration from May 31st. It was decided to ask the City Conncil to continue control until July Ist, the cost of administration to be refunded by the Board as from to-day. The Chairman pointed out that the Fire Brigades' Act required amending in several particulars, ami an amend- j ing Bill was likely to be introduced early in the session. There was, for instance, no disqualification clause for members. Then again, the Board would have no income until September Ist, and no provision had been made to empower them to borrow money or even arrange for an overdraft. Other matters requiring attention were those of new districts coming in, and control of automatic firealarms, etc. On his suggestion, he and Mr London were appointed a subCommittee to draft proposed amendments in the Bill.

Mr London, the Mayor, has resigned his position as a member of the Fire Board, in consequence of tive of insurance companies having been appointed to the chair. A further resignation of a city representative is rumoured.